Chocolate... healthier than salad?! Whaaattt!!
OK, that may be an exaggeration but it does grow on trees.
There has been a massive buzz around cacao over the last few years. Growing in popularity, with lots of artisan bean to bar chocolate companies hitting the market!! Thank god! Praise the chocolate spirit herself!
Scandals with mainstream chocolate growers and industrial companies have brought an awareness and desire to source sustainable and fair trade cacao. Which is leading to better conditions and quality cacao farming, in turn saving rainforest areas from deforestation and palm plantations.
There is still a long way to go, I certainly can't imagine a world without chocolate. So, hopefully with enough education, passion and love we can ensure a long and happy future with chocolate.
Now, I am not a vegan but when it comes to chocolate I like to go as pure and vegan as I can.
It is so easy to make yummy chocolate treats at home, I've been at it for years. Pouring small batch vegan chocolates at home, blessing them with magic and healing energy.
You can get really creative and have fun with it, I don't temper it, so it doesn't last long out of the fridge or travel well in hot climates, but it's a perfect way to get your chocolate fix. It's usually the first thing across my lips in the morning. Choc full of superfood goodness!
Cacao is different from the chocolate and cocoa that we grew up with in the west, the milky sweet stuff we all know and love but this has been chemically processed and treated to create the end result which unfortunately means it has lost most of the powerful, magical properties and health benefits.
Whereas, cacao in its pure form grows on the trees in beautiful pods that come in many colours - sometimes purple, yellow, red and green and with minimal processing - some gentle fermentation and drying in the sun - cacao maintains all the wonderful health benefits and magical properties in its pure form.
An ancient Mayan story says “When mankind gets out of harmony with the natural world Cacao will come from the rainforest to open peoples hearts and re-establish the balance.
Known as “The food for the shift” Cacao accelerates your awakening if that is where you want to go.
This movement is growing fast from Cacao facilitating meditation and inner processing work to chocolate hiking, dancing, yoga, kirtan and much more offered all over the world.
The health benefits are abundant also:
40 times the antioxidants of blueberries
Highest plant based source of Iron
Full of Magnesium for healthy heart and brain. (Magnesium also releases tension in the muscles)
More calcium than cows milk
A natural mood elevator & anti depressant
Cacao is a great source of the bliss chemicals such as Serotonin, Tryptophan, tyrosine, Phenylethylamine - these neurotransmitters are associated with cosy feelings of love, wellbeing and happiness.
I'm now growing cacao myself on a little patch of land here in Costa Rica, just starting out, so I'll keep you posted on the journey with the beautiful trees.
Here's one recipe and technique I use....... I'll add another variation soon. So check back!
In the video below I am using Cacao paste and cacao butter that's why it has the beautiful rich dark colour in the double boiler melting stage. This is a different technique I have been using recently.
Also remember not all cacao is created equal, you will need to try different brands and from different locations to find the ones you love. I have tried many over the years and will add some links. Be mindful though that even the same brand from batch to batch can differ due to growing conditions each year. Some are smooth and delicate and others can come out a bit rough and "jungly" ;0)
0 Comments